Saphir Du Rheu is to undergo a breathing operation today following his lacklustre effort in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Grand National-winning trainer Donald McCain believes horses have been the forgotten factor in the decision to put back the start of the world’s greatest steeplechase to 5.15pm.

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Coneygree will miss Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury after failing to sparkle in a schooling session yesterday.

Barry Geraghty’s hopes of making the Punchestown Festival rest on a meeting with his surgeon in four weeks’ time.

Willie Mullins intends to enter his Champion Hurdle big guns at the Aintree Grand National meeting.

Paul Nicholls is adamant ante-post favourite Silviniaco Conti is the one to beat in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Saturday’s galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham looks like being an informative affair after 12 entries were revealed.

Paul Nicholls will step up the work of his Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders Silviniaco Conti and Sam Winner in the coming days.

Owner Andy Stewart has revealed Saphir Du Rheu will revert to smaller obstacles for a likely tilt at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Fingal Bay, who remains the only horse to have beaten Simonsig under Rules, is out to finally fulfil his potential in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury this afternoon.

Mark Walsh will partner Colbert Station if Tony McCoy opts to ride Double Seven in the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree tomorrow.

Big Buck’s, the winner of four Ladbrokes World Hurdles, was retired after finishing fifth in the Cheltenham showpiece on day three of the Festival.

Proud owner Andy Stewart insists Big Buck’s remains at the top of his game at the age of 11 and expects him to fight all the way in an attempt to regain his stayers’ crown at Cheltenham.

Big Buck’s is in “seriously good order” according to trainer Paul Nicholls as he bids to land the Ladbrokes World Hurdle for a fifth time at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Big Buck’s is in “seriously good order” according to trainer Paul Nicholls as he bids to land the Ladbrokes World Hurdle for a fifth time at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Leading owner Andy Stewart has welcomed the news Annie Power will take on Big Buck’s in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Sam Twiston-Davies insists he will treat the ride on Big Buck’s no differently to any other as the record-breaking staying hurdler makes his return from more than a year’s absence at Cheltenham today.

Owner Andy Stewart admits he is “terrified” ahead of the return of Big Buck’s in the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls and Sam Twiston-Davies both expressed their satisfaction as the eagerly-anticipated return to action of Big Buck’s moved a step closer after the staying great came through a schooling session in the hands of his new jockey.

Big Buck’s’ owner Andy Stewart insists there are many names in the hat to discuss with trainer Paul Nicholls before deciding which jockey will get the call-up for the ride on the supreme staying hurdler.

Big Buck’s took an important step ahead of his eagerly-anticipated return to action with a gallop before racing at Exeter yesterday.

A tilt at the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28 is “looking likely” for Unioniste.

Nicky Henderson can still call on what he describes as a “proper horse” in the BetVictor Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown today as Captain Conan flies the flag in the absence of undisputed two-mile king Sprinter Sacre.

Jim Culloty believes there is further improvement in Lord Windermere after he ran a creditable race in defeat in Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

Jockey Ruby Walsh believes there is a lot more to come from Annie Power, despite having extended her unbeaten run to eight races at Ascot on Saturday.

Leading owner Andy Stewart paid tribute to Ruby Walsh after the jockey announced he would no longer be formally attached to the Paul Nicholls stable.

Bel La Vie won a thrilling renewal of the Gras Savoye Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil yesterday.

Solwhit, trained by Charles Byrnes and ridden by Paul Carberry, won the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer Colin Tizzard has challenged Cue Card’s rivals to take him on from the front in today’s Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Nicky Henderson insists Grandouet remains on course for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday despite taking an alarming drift on the betting exchanges yesterday afternoon.

Owner Andy Stewart is hoping his brilliant stayer Big Buck’s might return from injury at Newbury in late November.

Trainer Paul Nicholls was last evening dealt a huge double injury blow by the news Big Buck’s and Al Ferof are set to miss the rest of the season.

Owner Andy Stewart believes it is “highly unlikely” a dream clash between Big Buck’s and star mare Quevega will happen.

Voler La Vedette is likely to retrace her steps of last season which so nearly saw her defeat Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle when she kicks her campaign off in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan tomorrow.

Owner Dai Walters is hoping Oscar Whisky will be seen in his true light when he returns to the scene of his greatest success at Aintree on Saturday.

The imperious Big Buck’s created a slice of racing history at Aintree yesterday in the BGC Liverpool Hurdle – and it never looked in any doubt.

Big Buck's created history in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree by winning his 17th successive race, breaking the modern-day jumps total of Sir Ken.

Owner Andy Stewart believes Big Buck’s is as enthusiastic as ever as he goes for an amazing 17th win on the spin in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree tomorrow.

Tony McCoy will ride Burton Port in the Grade 1 Betfred Bowl at Aintree tomorrow, with Barry Geraghty sticking with Ryanair Chase winner Riverside Theatre.

Big Buck’s will face seven rivals in the BGC Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree on Thursday as he goes in search of an incredible 17th win in a row.

Big Buck’s made Ladbrokes World Hurdle history with a thrilling fourth successive victory in the stayers’ championship at Cheltenham.

BIG BUCK’S treated Cheltenham racegoers to a preview of what will surely be a fourth victory in March’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle when winning for the 15th time in-a-row on Saturday.